Yet another contractors’ association leader accuses Karnataka government of taking ‘commission’

Thippa Reddy has been elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly eight times from Chitradurga.

Considered an influential and powerful leader from the region, he is the latest to be accused of bribery in the Karnataka government.

The allegations

“He was ‘okay’ earlier, but he went berserk over the past four years, demanding commission from projects he cleared for contractors.,” Manjunath told South First.

“He used to collect 25 percent of the tender amount from projects related to Land Revenue, Nirmithi Kendra, KRDCL, and minor irrigation; 15 percent for PWD projects, and 5-10 percent for building contracts,” he added.

“If someone protested, he would arm-twist them by not clearing their pending dues and/or not giving them new projects,” Manjunath told South First.

Manjunath, on Monday, told reporters that he had around 50 records of direct phone conversations and around 25 WhatsApp chats with Thippa Reddy, besides three letters from the association over the past three years as proof.

He added that he would gradually make them public over the coming days.

Manjunath also played a recorded phone conversation of him with the MLA, apparently from 27 December, where the MLA was demanding 2.5 percent commission for a government building project worth ₹8.4 crore.

“The MLA initially demanded a 5 percent commission, but I somehow brought it down to 2.5 percent. For some future projects, he (MLA) was demanding advance commission,” Manjunath told South First.

A history of allegations

Ever since the suicide of civil contractor Santhosh Patil — who blamed BJP leader Eshwarappa for his death — in April last year and subsequent developments such as the BJP leader being given a clean chit, many contractors are hesitating to come forward with complaints against MLAs and ministers who are openly demanding hefty “commissions” for projects.

“There is no one to question them. The chief minister does not quiz them, the prime minister does not quiz them. Who are they afraid of?” asked Manjunath.

“As the working president of the Karnataka Contractors’ Association, I have ensured that we collect documents, records, and evidence against 13 MLAs and three-four ministers all over the state, and we will make them public in the coming days,” he said.

“We have also planned for a statewide protest on 18 January at Freedom Park, where around 10,000 contractors who are fed up with the existing system will agitate and question the government over commission demands and clearance of pending bills,” said Manjunath.

Political reactions

BJP spokesperson Mahesh G told South First: “It is a design of the Congress and its supporters: They came up with allegations that have no iota of evidence. If they have evidence, they can either approach the Lokayukta, high court, or any appropriate agency to probe the matter and come out with the truth.”

He added: “All these baseless allegations are meant for only discussion in the public domain, for which I would not be able to give a statement. Let them furnish the documents and evidence bolstering their claims. Then I will respond.”

Senior Congress leader and MLC BK Hariprasad told South First: “This is nothing new. The BJP in its manifesto clandestinely said it would recover the money to spent on horsetrading. This is just the tip of the iceberg. There is more to see as the election comes closer.”

He added: “One cannot expect any decency from this government. To form the government they have spent crores of rupees which they have to recover one way or the other.”